Sue Milling replaces Brian Topp at ACTRA Toronto

TORONTO, Feb. 7, 2013 /CNW/ - Brian Topp, Executive Director of ACTRA
Toronto since 2001, has announced he is stepping down from his post and
assuming a Senior Advisory role. Sue Milling, recently Director of the
Independent Production and Broadcast Department at ACTRA Toronto, has
been appointed by General Council to fill his position.

Reflecting on leaving ACTRA Toronto in a position of strength, Topp
said, "ACTRA Toronto is a well-respected union. Our industry is
flourishing. Our public policy agenda (fundamentally about respecting
artists, and seeing Canadian content on Canadian screens) is making
good progress. Our members are proud of our union and its work - 99 per
cent of them just voted 'yes' to our most recently negotiated
agreement." Mr. Topp was involved in a total of seven rounds of
negotiating key agreements for the union and will continue to advise on
ACTRA Toronto's relationship with Creative Arts Savings and Credit
Union, FilmOntario and other significant files.

Sue Milling has over 20 years of experience with the United Steelworkers
and is happy to be working again with ACTRA. "I am very grateful for
the confidence and trust of ACTRA Toronto Council. Together with the
fine team of Managers and staff at ACTRA Toronto, I look forward to
working with President Sparrow and Council in the days ahead. We have
an ambitious agenda but I have no doubt that together we will meet our
objectives, and then some - as we always do."

The change of guard was a first challenge for new President, David
Sparrow. "I was just days into my Presidency when Brian announced his
vision for change and renewal in the Executive Director's office. Brian
has brought ACTRA Toronto through exponential growth, so I was sorry to
see him leave. However, I am thrilled that Sue Milling has agreed to
succeed him. I couldn't feel more confident about our future. Sue has
been instrumental in areas of inclusion, gender equality, youth
development, training and more. She is a collegial yet tough negotiator
and politically astute. We're lucky to have her and I look forward to
our continuing but new relationship."

ACTRA Toronto is the largest organization within ACTRA, representing
over 15,000 of Canada's 22,000 professional performers working in the
English-language recorded media in Canada. As an advocate for Canadian
culture since 1943, ACTRA is a member-driven union that continues to
secure rights and respect for the work of professional performers.